Home-based business owners often don’t think of the impact that severe weather can have on their operations. However, they are the ones most frequently left with massive costs and time spent rebuilding, versus larger companies, as they are not equipped to deal with the structural damage and down time that can come from storms.
With winter drawing near, strong snow storms are unavoidable. In 2017, there were 3,526 power outages, impacting over 36.7 million people across the United States. Of those outages, 1,159 were caused by weather or falling trees. Power outages can have a serious impact on a home business, causing documents to be lost, taking down internet access and shutting down phone lines, especially when business owners are not prepared.
In fact, most people impacted by severe storms say they were unprepared. According to a study conducted by Cummins, 75% of respondents were not ready when they were impacted by a storm. As a result, respondents were more stressed (57%), more tired (30%) and angrier (12%) after dealing with the storm’s fallout. An additional 50% also had to leave their homes and stay at hotels. For a home-based business, this can be costly in work time loss too.
In order to mitigate the impact felt by power outages caused by winter storms, home businesses can take a number of steps to ensure business continuity.
One step home business owners can take is to install a Cummins home standby generator, which turns on the moment the power goes out. Designed to keep a house running, it can keep modems, computers and printers on to keep your business up and running.
Home business owners should consider using cloud-based storage solutions. Cloud storage solutions save digital documents, data and files “in the cloud,” allowing users to access them from anywhere. In the event of a serious snow storm, this would allow employees to conduct business from coffee shops, temporary office space or a public library.
Home businesses should also be sure to stock up on batteries, flashlights and chargers before a storm hits as it can be several days before power is restored and roads are cleared from a winter storm event. In the event that employees cannot leave due to treacherous weather conditions, this would ensure that they would be able to ride out the storm safely.
Additionally, having fully-charged cell phones can help employees stay in touch during some disasters -including providing portable Wi-Fi hotspots if needed. Investing in high-capacity portable charging devices is ideal for home businesses, as they can charge phones, laptops and tablets while the power is out.
Aside from power outages, winter storms can also cause serious damage to pipes, gutters and HVAC systems.
During the winter months, pipes are at a greater risk of freezing. Pipes in crawlspaces can freeze and burst, causing major damage. For a home business, this can be devastating, as water damage can destroy computers, important documents or inventory beyond repair. Insulating water pipes will help prevent them from freezing, giving home business owners ease of mind on cold, winter days. Insulating water pipes can also help save energy by preventing heat loss as water travels through the pipes, which can help lower heating costs.
Another way that home business owners can prevent water leaks during the winter is to install a smart moisture sensor. Placing a smart moisture sensor in the basement to detect flooding or under the sink can safeguard against small leaks transforming into a major headache. Additionally, investing in a smart thermostat can reduce energy consumption and, in turn, energy costs, allowing home businesses to allocate money for more important resources.
Cleaning gutters and making sure they are free of debris will minimize the risk of flooding, along with the potential of taking down power lines in the event of strong winds. Empty gutters also improve the foundation of your home, allowing it to keep its value and making it presentable when clients or potential customers visit.
Going beyond home maintenance, it is important that home business owners have a detailed plan in place that outlines how the office should operate in case of an emergency causd by severe weather.
Home businesses should identify a backup location in the event of long-term damage to the business. While customers may be sympathetic to the situation, they will start to look elsewhere to have their needs met. In order to keep customers from taking their business to competitors, a home business should have one or two backup locations in the event of an emergency. Warehouses or alternate facilities that offer spare rooms are a great option as well as friends, neighbors or other employees’ homes.
Another essential for home business owners is an emergency contact list. This contact list should include state, local and federal emergency phone numbers; phone numbers, addresses and email addresses for all clients, suppliers, contractors, financial institutions, insurance agents, radio and newspapers and any other individuals or businesses that might need to be notified in the event of a disaster. Employee contact information should be included on this list as well. A printed and electronic copy of the contact list should be stored offsite, so it is available in case of a disaster.
Lastly, home business owners should ensure they have adequate insurance. Often times homeowners’ insurance will not cover or will limit coverage when it comes to business equipment in the home. Business owners should ask their insurance broker about an endorsement in their homeowner’s policy to cover a home office or get a separate business owners’ policy. Additionally, check to see if the amount of coverage is enough to replace the home and contents at today’s prices. Policies just a few years old may already be outdated, leaving the home drastically uninsured.
Severe weather and the damage it inflicts is unavoidable, but following these steps will help home business owners recover quicker and keep business operations running as seamless as possible.
